Southeast Asian University of Technology

The school started as the Camarines Sur Trade School (CSTS) in 1911. Pedro Hidalgo organized trade courses in the intermediate level, offering carpentry, drawing and trade arts. Classes were first held at the library hall of the Camarines Sur High School.

In 1924, it started offering vocational courses in the secondary level under Doroteo Federis. In November 1925, the first permanent school building was constructed, the Gabaldon building on its 25,699 m² (276,620 sq ft) school site donated by the provincial government. This building still exists and is considered as the school's historical landmark. Woodworking courses were also introduced during the term of Cornelio Casaclang, as principal. At the outbreak of World War II, the school principal was Romulo Y. Mendoza.

In 1945, the school was reopened under Primitiva Obias as officer-in-charge until the reassignment of Cornelio Casaclang. Courses in auto mechanics, building construction, and furniture and cabinet making were offered. In 1948, during the administration of Oligario Lenon, girl's trades courses in dressmaking, cosmetology and food trades were offered and with it the construction of buildings and shops by virtue of House Bill no. 2919 (R.A. 825), sponsored by Congressman Emilio Tible, and approved on August 15, 1952, the school was nationalized and renamed Camarines Sur National School of Arts and Trades (CSNSAT). Manuel T. Espinosa became its first superintendent. In 1954, the two- year post- secondary trade- technical education was offered. Upon its conversion to a full-fledged college by virtue of R.A. No. 5056 sponsored by Cong. Ramon H. Felipe, Jr. on June 17, 1967, the CSNSAT was converted into a college and renamed as Bicol College of Arts and Trades (BCAT) and was authorized to offer courses like Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (BSIE). This was during the term of Carlos Borjal, but before it formally assumed its name as BCAT, it was known as Camarines Sur National College of Arts and Trades (CSNCAT) until in the mid-1980s when it adapted its name BCAT. Tertiary level was expanded to cover other fields of trade- technical education, thus the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) was opened in 1977. Under the Technical– Vocational Education Project (TVEP), it was selected as one of the pilot Technician Education Institutes (TEI) for Region V, by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECS). The education component of the project was operationalized in school year 1984–1985, by the offering of the two- year Diploma in Industrial Technician (DIT) curriculum, with four major fields of specialization namely automotive, mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration and air conditioning technologies. In 1984, Dr. Pacita S. Yorobe temporarily headed the school. Five months later, on April 1, 1985, Superintendent Augusto R. Nieves took over the second alumnus to achieve such status. In 1988, by virtue of DECS Order no. 39, s. 1988, the Teacher-Education component was expanded through the offering of the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd), major in Technology and Home Economics (THE), Mathematics, English and Physics; and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BEEd) with the area of specialization in Home Economics and Livelihood Education (HELE). Under the administration of Honesto T. Aguilar, the fifth school superintendent, BCAT started its offering of Engineering courses namely: Electrical Engineering (BSEE) Electronics and Communications Engineering (BSECE), Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and Bachelor of Science in architecture (BSA). The institution had first Engineering and Architecture graduates in March 2001 and had steadily produced board passers and top-notchers. BCAT continued its bid for excellence in technology and teacher education under Pedro F. Moreno, the sixth superintendent of the college. It remained undefeated during the annual Skills Olympic among TECHVOC schools in the Region. Its students maintained its dominance in the FFP-FAHP contests for high school students. In December 2000, pursuant to Republic Act 8760, on the integration of CHED Supervised Institution (CSI's) to State Universities and College (SUC's), the Bicol College of Arts and Trades was integrated to the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) in Nabua, Camarines Sur, with Dr. Lourdes B. Laniog as its president and Dr. Amparo A. Nieves as the campus director in the Naga Campus.

On July 1, 2002, Dr. Monsito G. Ilarde, was appointed college president. Within the first month of his presidency, he effected the integration of BCAT to Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC), with Dr. Alejandro R. Cortez as the new campus director until October 2003, when the position was reverted to Dr. Nieves, until her retirement in 2006. To date, pursuant to CSPC Board of Trustees Resolution No. 00-044, the former BCAT became CSPC Naga Campus. On October 19, 2012, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 1110231 separating CSPC Naga Campus and converting it into Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST). The CSNCAT, the BCAT, CSPC- Naga Campus, and now BISCAST, has survived 104 years as an institution of learning and served generations of Bikolanos.[2]

• Official website
• Page

13.63232°N 123.19192°E / 13.63232; 123.19192